Arunachal Governor Rajkhowa denies favouring any political party

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Governor JP Rajkhowa today denied that he was favouring any political party as alleged by the camp of the deposed Chief Minister of the state which is under President's rule now.

"There was no covert or overt attempt on the part of Raj Bhawan to favour any political party or person as the matter is already in court," a Raj Bhawan statement said.

The Congress yesterday accused Rajkhowa of conspiring to help dissident MLAs form a government with the support of BJP without waiting for a decision of the Supreme Court which is hearing petitions challenging imposition of President's rule in the state.

The Raj Bhawan statement clarified that the Governor had never sought a report from the state law department on whether Deputy Speaker T N Thongdok can perform the duties of a Speaker when President's rule is in place in the state.

The clarification came following claims that Thongdok, a dissident Congress leader, had sought the opinion of law department through the Governor asking if he can function as deputy speaker performing the duties of Speaker, based on which Rajkhowa sought a report from the law department.

The claim was made in New Delhi by Geetartha Darshan Barua, spokesperson of deposed Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.

The Raj Bhawan statement said, on February 2 the Governor's Secretary Joram Beda received a fax from the personal secretary of the Deputy Speaker stating that Thongdok is arriving in Guwahati from New Delhi and requested the Assembly secretariat to provide his official vehicle along with pilot and driver.